New Coastie – The allure of fantasy land

In the academic world of my doctoral studies, where theoretical frameworks breed like tribbles and deadlines loom like dementors, the fantasy literature genre is my refuge.

Imagine this: I’m hunched over my desk, eyes bleary from hours of dissecting complex theories that would make Einstein’s hair curl even more. But then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, I reach for my trusty volume of fantasy literature. As soon as I crack open that spine, the real-world melts away faster than ice in a dragon’s breath. Suddenly, I’m not a frazzled doctoral student; I’m a brave knight, a fearless princess, or perhaps a misunderstood sorcerer that loves dramatic entrances.

The world of fantasy is a place where the impossible becomes delightfully possible. Where else can you encounter a dual personality Gollum with a knack of speaking in the third person? Or witness a battle where an impending loss is thwarted by magical fairies? The audacity of these tales has the ability to make one forget the weight of our problems, even if only for a moment.

Take dragons, for instance. These magnificent creatures are the essence of fantasy allure. They come in all shapes, sizes, and temperaments, from the wise and ancient Smaug to the loyal and obedient Drogon. There’s something incredibly liberating about losing oneself in a world where dragons are as common as seagulls (albeit not as fond of fish and chips). 

My favourite dragon is Azdhaar from the Chitral folklore of northern Pakistan. With the body of a snake and a lion’s mane, what’s not to like? As I read, I can befriend these gigantic creatures or ride them over continents without worrying about citations or footnotes.

The most wonderful thing about fantasy literature is its ability to tackle profound themes like good versus evil, war, politics, corruption, bigotry, classism and mortality with amazing ease. It’s like a spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine of deep, philosophical reflection go down. My serious non-fiction world, which I love, often feels like navigating a maze of dense prose and convoluted arguments, but fantasy literature? That’s like flying over the labyrinth on the back of a griffin, laughing at the centaur below.

As a teenager I used to lose myself in the adventures of Amir Hamza, the original South Asian slash Persian fantasy. Recently I picked it up and I felt like I was that happy child again. Next minute, I am deep into the fantasy sci-fi interplanetary world created by Pierce Brown in the Red Rising Trilogy and the enchanted world of djinns, peris, shedus, and karkadanns created by SA Chakraborty in the Daevabad Trilogy. 

These stories are in my ears when I go for long walks, clean up the kitchen, or as I go to bed. You might ask – hey what about social media? To that I say – what social media? Let me know what your favourite fantasy book, character or creature is.